Deep down, I knew it was because of my daughter.
If Sophia killed me, and my men killed her…
I sucked in a deep breath.
If we died, then Lily would be the heir to two criminal families, and as her only living relative, he would get custody.
All of this was for power.
“Yeah, there’s more…”
I shook my head. “I’ve seen enough for now. Someone find out where that no-good asshole Gio is. Do it now. I don’t care what it takes. Just find him. You can burn this city to the ground for all I care.”
Yanking out my phone, I headed toward the door.
“Where are you…”
“To Sophia. Gio has Lily, and I need to get back to her before she does something self-sacrificing and stupid.”
Quickly, I dialled the number. It was answered straight away.
“Matteo?” This time, Sophia’s roommate didn’t bark at me. She sobbed. Her voice broke with panic and too many emotions to holdin. “Matteo, that’s you, isn’t it? You need—I don't know what to do,” she wailed.
I went completely still. Not even my heart seemed to beat. “What’s happened?” I hissed. “Where is Sophia?”
There was nothing but sobbing on the phone line.
Fuck. I tugged at my hair.
“Nat is someone hurt?” I needed her to calm down. These hysterics weren’t doing anyone any good. “Are you hurt? Put Sophia on the phone.”
“She’s not here.”
The world tilted on its axis. “What do you mean she’s not there?”
“She got a call from her brother, and…” Another hiccuping sob. “She rushed out and into a car I didn’t recognize at the end of the street.”
“Where did she go? Did she tell you anything?”
“No, she didn’t, but she was scared, Matteo. I’ve never seen her look so scared. I think…” Her voice broke. “I think her brother might hurt them.”
I thought so too, and at that moment, I was more afraid than I had ever been.
“I’m going to be there in twenty minutes, okay? Twenty minutes. Write down what you remember before you forget it all, and under no circumstances are you to phone the police, is that understood?”
“But—"
“Is that understood? Sophia and Lily are my family, and I am going to get them back.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sophia
“Gio.” Slipping from the car, I hurried across the gravel and completely empty parking lot toward the only other person in sight. “Gio, where is Lily?” In the dark, I almost stumbled and almost went down, but at the last minute, I caught myself.
My brother’s shadowy form straightened from the car he was leaning against. He swung the passenger side open. “Get in the car.”
There was absolutely no emotion in his voice. If anything, he sounded bored.
